October - December 2012 - National Institute of Rural Development

542 Book Reviewsexamines the existing variability of ruraltechnology and its path of development,thereby identifying the factors responsible forappropriate use and application of differenttechnologies at the grassroots level. Keepingin view viability of technology across the fields,a composite index of appropriate technologieswas discussed in the book based on fivebroadly accepted sections like a) Technologyand Integrated Rural Development; b)Technology in improving rural Infrastructure;c) Technology for Service Industry vis-à-vis RuralSector d) Transfer of Technology to the RuralSector and e) Appropriate Rural Technologyand Prototypes. The overall findings of theanalysis support the general perception andapplication of resourceful technologies forrural development across the nation.Rural technologies are considered as oneof the most important pillars of sustainabledevelopment. The present discourse of thisbook, a compilation of articles written bytechnocrats, academicians, researchers andpractitioners in their respective field ofexpertise, elaborates the need for establishingthe sustainable technological developmentprocess at the various considerations – social,economic, political and environmental etc.Particularly, the authors viewed that access fortechnology and resources, which are by andlarge, must be ensured and protected foroverall growth of the rural areas. Such effortwill not only lead to optimum utilisation ofresources but also generate moreemployment opportunities for the ruralpeople.The contributors of articles explainedabout the challenges for technologydevelopment, security measures,administrative reforms and role of governancein development administration, impact ofappropriate and new technology inenvironment management and so on. Theyalso provided suggestive measures to developalternative, appropriate technologies for theinclusive rural development. Further, thehistory of technology, resources andapproaches for energy and ecosystem werealso analysed based on the problems anddistribution of type and its productsnecessitating the conservation of energy forboth national as well as global context.Obviously, this book presents brilliantideas for all sections of stakeholders, users andinstitutions involved in transfer oftechnologies from lab to land. This also helpsin focusing much better in tackling pertinentissues relating to conservation of technologiesand management of resources and presentinganalysis of various elements involved inintegrated development of technology andresource systems that subject specialist,researcher, planner and policy maker will findthis book interesting and useful.– Dr. R. MurugesanEmpowerment of Indian Muslims:Perspectives, Planning and Road Ahead Ed.By Mirza Asmer Beg & A. R. Kidwai. ConceptPublishing Company Pvt. Ltd., Pages – i– xvi and173, Price ` 550.The book is the outcome of the researchpapers presented at the Heads ofDepartments meet organised at UGCAcademic Staff College of Aligarh MuslimUniversity. Altogether 14 papers wereincluded in this volume focusing on thedevelopment needs of the Muslims in India.Almost all the papers emphasised the needfor development of education among theMuslims. Hamida Ahmad in her (first) chapteron ‘Empowerment of Muslims through QualityEducation’ opines that Muslims being thelargest minority community of the country lagbehind pathetically in education so hersuggestion is ‘must set high targets in thissphere’. Rais Ahmed is his paper suggestedthat by setting up of Education Trust, poorMuslim children can be imparted qualityJournal of Rural Development, Vol. 31, No. 4, October - December : 2012